Like many of you, yes,I will be countingmy blessings on thisThanksgiving Day.

But before I can fully appreciatethe abundance of what I have,I must sometimes lookat where I once was.

So don't get discouragedwhen you begin to readthe first verses listed below.

Because they won't initially seemuplifting and encouraging.

As a matter of fact,they might just make you feeldownright errible about yourself.

This is your cue to DELETEthe Devotional... CLICK!Move on to realm something else. Yep, I guess that's an option.

But truth is still truth. And measuring the distance fromwhere we've come, can actuallymake us MORE grateful today.

So I encourage you to press onand to readabout who we used to be...before Jesus entered our lives.

Today, I am THANKFULthat even thoughthe Scriptures say...No one is righteous, not even one.No one is truly wise;no one is seeking God.

All have turned away;all have become useless.No one does good, not a single one.

Destruction and miseryalways follow them.They don’t know where to find peace.They have no fear of God at all.Romans 3:10-12, 16-18 NLT​Because that is all we humansare apable of in our own abilities.

Yet we still have HOPE.And this is where we give thanks. Because...God sacrificed Jesuson the altar of the world toclear that world of sin.Having faith in Him sets usin the clear.

God decidedon this course of actionin full view of the public...to set the world in the clearwith Himself throughthe sacrifice of Jesus,finally taking care of the sinsHe had so patiently endured.

This is not only clear,but it’s now...this is current history!

God sets things right.He also makes it possible for us​to live in His rightness.Roman 3:25-26 MSG

Now that IS something forwhich to be THANKFUL!

So how do we live our this HOPE?How can we realize and have it?

What we’ve learned is thatGod does not respondto what we do;we respond to what God does.

We’ve finally figured it out.Our lives get in step with Godand all others by letting Himset the pace,not by proudly or anxiouslytrying to run the parade.Romans 3:27-28 MSG

Wow!There is only one God.And we need to use our faithto get in line with His plan,not the other way around.

And when we do,we receive the joy, hope,and inheritance of right standingin His presence.

No more are we unwise, lacking, and useless.Gone are the days ofdestruction and miseryas we read in the first verses,because we are in His care.

So this Thanksgiving Day,my proclamations are grounded...I am thankful for His grace.I am thankful for His Son.I am thankful for His patience.I am thankful for His forgiveness.I am thankful for His gift ofeternal life that I did not earnbut freely receive through faith.

Word of Godtrain me today...To never forget who I was without You.

To ever be thankful for the gift of salvation​You freely give by grace, through faith.

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from my heart...

I write as an overflow... an expression of my true love for God and with a deep desire to encourage others in their day to day lives. For we can only find peace, joy, and satisfaction when we yield to the One who yielded His life for us.